JPH08228336A - Monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily display image-picked up videos of plural cameras installed at multiple points at need from a PC/WS, etc., used in an office without increasing communication traffic on a communication channel. CONSTITUTION: The PC/WSs as camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 are set at every sub-group of a computer network. The camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 always acquire and update video information from the cameras 1-1 to 1-12 in the group, and the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 transmit/receive the video information among the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 at an interval set separately corresponding to the connection mode of the computer network. Consequently, the case to disturb ordinary communication owing to the increment of the communication traffic is evaded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance device, and more particularly to a surveillance device capable of selecting and displaying images from a plurality of cameras installed at remote locations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CCTV called a surveillance system
In (closed circuit television) etc., a system for selecting / compositing / switching display of images from a plurality of cameras by arranging a dedicated cable such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber is used in a large building or a bank like a conventional one. Not only as a large-scale monitoring system, but also as a small-scale system used in convenience stores, condominiums, etc., it is being spread and promoted.

On the other hand, O of personal computers and the like
LAN (local) as a communication medium that connects devices A
The spread of the area network) is remarkable, and in order to cope with the increase of communication traffic and the future multimedia such as video information and audio information, the movement toward large-capacity and high-speed communication is rapidly being made. In particular, regarding the speedup of the backbone LAN, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) -LAN that enables transmission of 100 Mb / s to 155 Mb / s
/ FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) -L
Standardization and introduction of AN and others are being pursued. 1 for branch lines
Standardization of a twisted pair LAN and the like that realizes 00 Mb / s is underway. Similarly in the public network system, B-
Recommendations for ISDN (broadband ISDN), experiments of ATM communication on CATV, etc. have begun to be carried out actively, and high-speed network environment preparation for multimedia correspondence of the entire communication infrastructure is about to be started gradually.

Further, instead of a surveillance camera targeting CCTV, a future personal computer / workstation (P
DTV (Desk Top Video Confe) centered on C / WS
rencing) Various cameras aiming at PC / WS connection targeting the market are being offered at low prices.

On the other hand, the media information actually transmitted, such as video information and audio information as multimedia information, is simply digitized while maintaining the quality as it is. An information amount of 100 Mb / s or more is required to digitize video information such as NTSC / PAL while maintaining the image quality as it is. Similarly, as for voice information, even if the voice band is limited to about 3.4 MHz, the amount of information of 64 Kb / s is required only by PCM conversion. It is not practical to directly transmit or store such a huge amount of information even in a situation where the speed of the line is high and the storage medium has a large capacity.

Therefore, various digital compression techniques are being researched and developed and are being put into practical use. Regarding video information,
In accordance with each application, the still image compression system uses the JPEG encoding system, and the moving image compression system uses MPEG1 for storage, for example.
(1.5 Mb / s or less) encoding system, in the communication system, H.264 for narrow band ISDN (64 Kb / s to 2 Mb / s). Two
MPEG2 (several Mb / s to several tens of M / s) that is compatible with the 61-encoding system, high-definition, or guarantees an image quality equivalent to that of the current television.
b) Encoding schemes, various compression encoding schemes such as MPEG-4 encoding schemes are being standardized for transmission rates (9.6 Kb / s to 28.8 Kb / s) guaranteed by analog telephone lines. There is. Similarly, with respect to audio information, various compression encoding methods have been standardized according to the application, and G.264 guarantees up to 7 kHz band. 722 and 3.4KH
z ADPCM for compressing voice band to lower bit rate
(32 Kb / s or less), LD-CELP (16 Kb / s
Coding methods such as s) are standardized.

[0007] These movements are presently individual approaches before the development into the multimedia market including future video information and audio information, and the speed of practical application of each trend is not necessarily linked. Since it does not exist, it involves various problems in constructing an actual system. In particular, the spread and maintenance of computer network environments centered on PC / WS is remarkable, and the speedup of the backbone LAN has been steadily achieved with the rapid increase in traffic on the LAN, but it is actually used. It is impossible to transmit data that will generate an enormous amount of information even if compression coding such as moving image information is performed on a LAN, which is a computer network, because it has a great influence on other transmissions. Is.

Therefore, when a plurality of cameras are installed to construct a surveillance system that needs to obtain the plurality of pieces of video information, a coaxial cable or optical fiber cable for video transmission is separately provided. It is common to do. Also, for the purpose of monitoring, each video is finally concentrated in the monitoring room, and in the monitoring room, it is possible to constantly monitor video at more points by using multiple monitors and image synthesis processing means. Or, it is switched and displayed by a switcher for monitoring.

A conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable such as CCTV will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable.

In FIG. 9, 11-1, 11-2, 11
-3, ..., 11-n are various monitoring cameras, 12 is a video switcher for switching and synthesizing a plurality of video inputs, and 1
3 selects the video output display or individual surveillance camera 1
Various controllers for instructing control to 1-1 to 11-n, 14 is a monitor group which displays images output from the video switcher 12 after being selected / combined from the collected images, and 15 is collected for monitoring A video recording device such as a time-lapse VTR for recording a video, 16 is a cable group for exclusive use of a surveillance system video such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable for video input & power supply of CCTV, etc. 17 is a surveillance camera 11-1 to 11- n is a power supply controller that supplies power to n. As shown in FIG. 9, each surveillance camera 1
1-1 to 11-n are video switchers 12 in the monitoring room
1 is directly connected to one port of the above, and the imaged images from the monitoring cameras 11-1 to 11-n are always concentrated in the monitoring room.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n are used.
It is necessary to concentrate the captured images from one camera in one place, and in order to achieve the surveillance purpose, each camera 11-1 to
The captured image from 11-n needs to reach the monitoring room, and it is practically impossible to use the LAN for OA and the like, and the image cable needs to be routed exclusively. Therefore, it has not been possible to construct a system in which a PC / WS or the like on the desk of each person can easily acquire an image at any time whenever he / she wants.

On the other hand, a LAN of a computer network of an existing PC / WS is not a monitoring system which constantly displays and monitors video information of multiple points for the purpose of monitoring.
On a computer normally used in an office that uses communication lines such as, for example, to see the outside weather in an office environment without windows, or to see how busy the cafeteria is, It is possible to build a low-cost system aiming at a new application that allows anyone to easily obtain a video of a remote location temporarily on their own personal computer on their desks during work or at other times. Is desired.

Further, although some means using a communication line is about to be adopted as the video transmission means of the remote monitoring system, in this case as well, it is a video centralized system for monitoring and is a dedicated device in the monitoring room. Only the processing and display are performed, and the communication line is prepared only for the monitoring system as a form of use, and it has to be prepared separately from the OA network.

Further, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n at remote locations are also provided.
In the conventional surveillance system, a large number of display monitors 14 are prepared, screens are synthesized, sequential switching is performed, and there is a full-time supervisor who constantly monitors which image is to be displayed. Is a method in which a desired image is displayed by a direct instruction of a full-time person, and the image is always displayed and always recorded. This method was made possible or necessary by arranging a dedicated cable and keeping a dedicated monitoring person resident or recording at all times. It is not for monitoring purposes but for PC / WS on the desk. The system configuration was not suitable for a system that casually acquired and displayed temporarily.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to use the images picked up by a plurality of cameras installed at multiple points for work in an office without increasing communication traffic on a communication line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring device that can be easily displayed at any time.

A second object of the present invention is to obtain an image picked up from a desired camera by each PC / WS,
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-priced monitoring device through a communication line such as a LAN of a computer network that is already connected without adding a new H / W.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device capable of reducing the increase in traffic on a computer network and promptly acquiring and displaying a video image picked up by a desired camera. Is.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a plurality of image pickup devices, a connecting means for connecting the plurality of image pickup devices to a communication line, and the communication line. By passing control information and video information to and from the imaging device via the information device, an information device that selects the imaging device and displays the video, a monitoring unit that monitors communication traffic on the communication line, and A communication control means for automatically controlling a communication method of the control information or the video information to the communication line, or a communication time of the control information or the video information to the communication line based on the state. ing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the dividing means divides the plurality of image pickup devices into a plurality of groups according to the environment connected to the communication line, and controls the image pickup devices in each group. An auxiliary means for acquiring and storing video information from all the imaging devices in the group, and a communication means for communicating the video information from the imaging device between the auxiliary means via the communication line, Setting means for setting the communication method or communication time of the video information in each of the auxiliary means based on the connection status to the communication line;
It has a switching means for monitoring the communication traffic on the communication line and automatically switching the communication method or the communication time of the video information to the communication line based on the state of the communication traffic.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is a detecting means for detecting a difference between a video image currently picked up by the image pickup device and a video image sent before, and a comparing means for comparing the difference with a predetermined prescribed value. And, if the difference exceeds the specified value, the video information currently being imaged is sent to the communication line, and if the difference does not exceed the specified value, the image to the communication line. And transmitting means for not transmitting information and transmitting control information indicating that the video information is not transmitted.

The invention according to claim 4 further comprises a detecting means for detecting a difference between the image sent from the auxiliary means and a previously sent image, and a comparing means for comparing the difference with a predetermined prescribed value. If the difference exceeds the specified value,
Sending the sent video information to the communication line, and if the difference does not exceed the specified value, do not send the video information to the communication line and do not send the video information. And sending means for sending control information indicating.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the communication traffic on the communication line is increased by controlling the communication system and the communication time of the video information from the image pickup device based on the state of the communication traffic on the communication line. It is possible to easily display the picked-up images of a plurality of image pickup devices installed at multiple points at any time from a PC / WS or the like used for work in the office.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, by providing an auxiliary means for acquiring and storing the image information from the image pickup device, the communication method or the communication time of the image information to the communication line is optimized. It is possible to obtain the imaged image from the desired image pickup device by each PC / WS. Since it is sufficient to communicate with the auxiliary means, the desired image can be obtained without increasing the communication traffic on the communication line. It is possible to promptly acquire and display the captured image from the image capturing device.

According to the invention of claim 3, the video information of the communication line is transmitted only when the difference between the video imaged by the imaging device and the video image previously transmitted exceeds the specified value. By performing the transmission, it is possible to reduce the increase in traffic on the communication line and quickly acquire and display the captured image from the desired image capturing apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 4, the video information is sent to the communication line only when the difference between the video sent from the auxiliary means and the video sent previously exceeds the specified value. By doing so, it is possible to reduce an increase in traffic on the communication line and quickly acquire and display a captured image from a desired image capturing apparatus.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1-1 to 1-12 are cameras as an image pickup device, and 2-1 to 2-4 are cameras of each group obtained by dividing a plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-12 on a network. A server, for example, camera 1-1
~ 1-3 are supported by the camera server 2-1, cameras 1-4, 1-5 are supported by the camera server 2-2, cameras 1-6, 1-7 are supported by the camera server 2-3. Supported, cameras 1-10, 1-12 are supported by camera server 2-4. 3 is a backbone LAN of computer network communication lines, ATM-LA
High-speed LAN such as N-FDDI-LAN, 4-1 to 4-
Reference numeral 4 is a branch line LAN, which is a normal LAN such as Ethernet or token ring, and 5-1 to 5-3 are routers / brouters for connecting the backbone LAN 3 and the branch lines LAN 4-1 to 4-3. 6 is a communication line such as a public line network other than LAN such as B-ISDN or a dedicated optical fiber line, 7-1,
Reference numeral 7-2 is a gateway / router for connecting the LAN communication line of the backbone LAN 3 and the branch LAN 4-4 and the communication line 6. 8-1 and 8-2 are PCs / Ws on their desks
S etc.

Next, the configuration of the video handling portion when the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 according to the embodiment of the present invention are realized by PC / WS will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera server of the surveillance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, 101 is a LAN communication line 4
And a communication control unit 102 for controlling communication with the LAN communication line 4, which includes a connection i / f with, and video encoding for encoding digital video data to be transmitted, or decoding received encoded video data. Decoding unit, 103 is P in FIG.
An image synthesizing processing unit that synthesizes an image captured from the camera 1 or a received image received from the communication control unit 101 on the graphic screen on the C / WS 8-1, 8-2, or overlay-displays the image data, and 104 is image data. A VRAM 105 for storing the data is a monitor display unit, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a PC / W having a received video display window 202 and other application windows 203, 204 such as a word processor and a spreadsheet application.
The monitor display unit 201 in S8-1 and S8-2 is included.

A video encoding / decoding unit 1 106 stores digitized image data in the memory 107 or reads digital image data stored in the memory 107.
02, a memory access control unit for controlling access to the memory 107, 107 is a memory for storing image data captured by the camera 1 while being digitized by the A / D conversion unit 108, and 108 is a camera A to digitize the analog image data captured by 1.
An A / D conversion unit 109 is a video switcher that selects inputs from a plurality of cameras 1 and performs switching input. 110
Is a traffic monitoring unit for monitoring communication traffic on the LAN communication line 4 in cooperation with the communication control unit 101, 11
Reference numeral 1 is a storage unit such as HD or memory, and 112 is a system control unit including a CPU or the like provided in the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2 main body for controlling the whole. Video encoding / decoding unit 1
02, the image processing unit 103, and the traffic monitoring unit 110 can be realized by software.

Next, the camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The configurations 1 to 1-12 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 shows the branch line LAN4- via the cameras 1-1 to 1-7, 1-10, 1-12 or the PC / WS8-2 directly connected to the branch lines LAN4-1 to 4-4 of FIG. Camera servers 2-1 and 2-1 such as the camera 1-11 connected to the server 4.
4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video communication portion of cameras 1-1 to 1-12 under the jurisdiction of No. -4.

In FIG. 3, 120 is the LAN communication line 4
A communication control unit that has a connection i / f for controlling the communication of the LAN communication line 4; a video encoding unit 121 that encodes and compresses image data captured by the camera unit 127;
Reference numeral 2 is a memory that controls access to the memory 123 when storing digitized image data in the memory 123 or reading digital image data stored in the memory unit 123 and transferring the digital image data to the video encoding unit 121. An access control unit, 123 is a memory for storing the image data from the camera unit 127 digitized by the A / D conversion unit 124, and 124 is an A / D that performs analog-digital conversion of analog image data output from the camera unit 127. A D conversion unit, 125 is a system control unit that controls the entire cameras 1-1 to 1-12, 126 is a traffic monitoring unit that monitors communication traffic on the LAN communication line 4 in cooperation with the communication control unit 120, and 127 is a traffic monitoring unit. This is the camera unit that actually captures an image.

Next, the operation of the monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a video capture management table managed by the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4, in which video capture modes and intervals from the cameras 1-1 to 1-12 in the group, other camera servers 2-1 to 2-1. 2-4
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the video transmission / reception mode and the interval between them are set.

First, as shown in step S101, the cameras 1-1 to 1-7, 1-10, 1-12 or the camera server 2-which are directly connected to the branch lines LAN4-1 to 4-4 of FIG. 1 to 2-4 are communication control units 101 of FIGS.
120 and traffic monitoring unit 110, 126 branch line LA
It waits for a certain period of time while monitoring the communication traffic in the communication data on N4-1 to 4-4. When a certain time has elapsed, as shown in step S102,
The current communication traffic on the branch LANs 4-1 to 4-4 is calculated and updated.

Next, as shown in step S103, it is determined whether or not the video transmission mode needs to be changed based on the calculated current communication traffic. If the video transmission mode needs to be changed, the process proceeds to step S104 to change the video transmission mode. That is, when transmitting a still image video based on the calculated ratio of the current communication traffic to the maximum possible communication capacity, the transmission is performed by changing the transmission interval of the still image video or changing the transmission image size. Further, when transmitting a moving image, control is performed so as to increase or decrease the transmission rate per unit time from the transmitting device, or similarly increase or decrease the number of pixels in one frame. If you do not need to change the video transmission mode,
It proceeds to step S105.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, up to 20% of the communication traffic is transmitted within the group of the cameras 1-6 under the condition of 5 seconds / frame, and exceeds 20% of the communication traffic. If it is up to 30%, the video transmission within the group of the cameras 1-6 is changed to 7 seconds / frame. In addition, as shown in the "Other" column of FIG.
"PM 10:00 or later Video file News
For example, "P.
M. After 10:00, the file transmission is started as soon as the traffic becomes 5% or less ”.

Next, as shown in step S105, it is determined whether or not the video transmission timing has come. If it is not the video transmission timing, the process returns to step S101, and if it is determined that the video transmission timing has come, step S101 is performed.
Proceed to 106.

Next, as shown in step S106, it is determined whether or not the transmitting device is the camera server 2-1 to 2-4. If it is the camera server 2-1 to 2-4, the process proceeds to step S111. , For other devices, step S
Proceed to 107.

Next, as shown in step S107, the camera 1 directly connected to the branch lines LAN4-1 to 4-4.
-1 to 1-7, 1-10, 1-12 or PC / WS2-
Cameras 1-8, 1-connected via 3, 8-2
If it is 9, 1-11, the current transmission mode is checked and necessary settings are made. For example, JPEG still image, 16
Image information such as 0 × 120 pixels is instructed to the video encoding unit 121 in FIG.

Next, as shown in step S108, after the image data actually being picked up by the camera unit 127 is digitized by the A / D conversion unit 124, the digitized image data is controlled by the memory access control unit 122. It is taken into the memory 123 based on

Next, as shown in step S109, while the image data captured in step S108 is being encoded by the video encoding unit 121, the communication control unit 120 controls the camera server under its control via the branch line LAN4. The image data is transmitted to 2-1 to 2-4.

Next, as shown in step S110, it is monitored whether or not the prescribed video transmission is completed. If the video transmission is not completed, the procedure returns to step S108.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S106 that the image is transmitted between the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4, the process proceeds to step S111 to check and set the transmission mode.

Next, as shown in step S112, the corresponding video file to be transmitted is stored in the H / H of the storage unit 111.
The data is read from D to the memory 107.

Next, as shown in step S113, the image data read in step S112 is encoded by the video encoding / decoding unit 102 while performing the combining process via the combining processing unit 111 if the image data needs to be combined. The encoding is performed by the section. Then, via the communication control unit 101, the branch line LA
The image data is transmitted to the other camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 via N4.

Next, as shown in step S114, it is monitored whether or not the prescribed video transmission is completed. If the video transmission is not completed, the procedure returns to step S113.

In the above embodiment, each camera 1-
Although the image data transmitted from 1 to 1-12 is mainly described as the still image data, it can be similarly realized when the moving image is communicated. Further, it is possible to directly connect the cameras 1-1 to 1-12 to the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4, and in this case also, the cameras 1-1 to 1-
The same control can be performed except that the image data is not transmitted on the branch lines LAN4-1 to 4-4 when the image is acquired between the camera 12 and the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4. Regarding the communication line, especially the branch lines LAN4-1 to 4-1
It is not necessary to use 4-4, and other communication lines can be processed in almost the same manner although there are differences in the communication procedure.

In the above embodiment, the camera server 2-
Although the method of monitoring the communication traffic other than 1 to 2-4 has been described, only the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 monitor the communication traffic, and based on the change of the communication traffic, the camera 1 Means for instructing each of the cameras 1-1 to 1-12 to change the video communication mode as control information for 1 to 1-12 is also possible.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the branch line LAN already set up for OA is provided.
Computer consisting of communication lines such as 4-1 to 4-4
The cameras 1-1 to 1-12 according to this embodiment are connected to the network.
By connecting the computer in the office
Which PC / WS8-1, 8 connected to the network
-Camera that you want when you like from 2 etc. 1-
It is possible to acquire and display the captured images from 1 to 1-12.

Further, P as the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 is provided for each subgroup of the computer network.
The C / WS is set, and the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 constantly perform acquisition and update of the video information in the group, and the video information between the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 is set. Camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 send and receive computer
By performing the setting at an interval that is separately set according to the network connection mode, it is possible to avoid a situation in which communication traffic on the computer network increases and interferes with normal communication.

Further, by constantly monitoring the communication traffic and changing the communication mode such as the interval at which video is actually transmitted and the image size, the traffic on the computer network is increased and the normal communication is disturbed. While avoiding such a situation, any of the PCs / WSs 8-1 and 8-2 on the computer network can simply request the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 in the corresponding area to obtain the desired camera at any time. It is possible to acquire and display the images 1-1 to 1-12. This allows
The users of the PC / WS 8-1 and 8-2 can easily and quickly observe the latest image information of a remote place that cannot be seen in their own field of view while working on their desk. Become.

Next, the operation of the monitoring apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an acquired image and a transmission result when it is determined whether or not the image is transmitted based on the difference, and FIG. 8 shows an operation of the monitoring device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart.

First, as shown in step S201, the cameras 1-1 to 1-12 stand by until the video transmission timing. Then, when the transmission time has come, step S
In step 202, the transmission coding mode and the image size in the current video transmission mode are checked and necessary settings are made.

Next, as shown in step S203, the picked-up image is captured. That is, the analog image data from the camera unit 127 of FIG. 3 is converted into digital image data by the A / D conversion unit 124, and the digital image data is stored in the memory unit 123 under the control of the memory access control unit 122.

Next, as shown in step S204, the difference is detected by comparing with the previously transmitted image data stored in the memory unit 123.

Next, as shown in step S205, the difference calculated in step S204 is compared with a preset prescribed value, and if the difference is equal to or greater than the prescribed value, step S2
In step 06, the image data is transmitted, and if the difference is less than the specified value, the process proceeds to step S208 and the image data is not transmitted. For example, as shown in FIG.
When the image a1 of FIG. 6 is captured and transmitted at 27, the difference between the captured image a2 and the image a1 is considered to be less than the specified value and is not transmitted. Then, when the image a3 is captured, the difference from the image a2 is regarded as being equal to or greater than the specified value and transmission is performed, and the image a4 is similarly transmitted. After that, when the image a5 is captured, the difference from the image a4 is regarded as less than the specified value, and the image is not transmitted. Also, images b1 to
In b5, the difference is considered to be equal to or greater than the specified value and transmitted.

If the difference is equal to or larger than the specified value in step S205, the process proceeds to step S206, in which the captured image data is encoded by the video encoding unit 121 and is transmitted via the branch line LAN4 via the communication control unit 120. The video is transmitted to the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4, and in step S207, the end of the transmission is monitored, and when the transmission is completed, the video frame transmitted this time is moved to the storage area of the video frame transmitted last time. Keep it.

On the other hand, if the difference is less than the specified value in step S205, the process proceeds to step S208, and the control information indicating that video transmission is not performed is sent to the system section 125.
And transmits the control information to the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 via the branch LAN 4 via the communication control unit 120.

In the cameras 1-1 to 1-12,
Although the method of performing comparison with the image transmitted last time is described, the method of performing comparison in the camera servers 2-1 to 2-4 is also possible. Further, the difference detecting means is not limited. Also, focusing on the left column of FIG. 6, the image al
Since the difference between the image a2 and the image a2 is less than the specified value, video transmission is not performed and only control information is transmitted. Since the difference between the image a3 and the image a4 which is equal to or larger than the specified value is detected, video transmission is performed. The image a5 is not transmitted again because the difference from the previously transmitted image a4 is less than the specified value.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the difference from the image transmitted last time is detected, and the image information is transmitted only when it is judged that the difference exceeds a certain specified value. However, when it is determined that the difference does not exceed a certain specified value, the traffic on the communication line such as LAN is increased by sending the control information indicating that the video information is not sent without sending the video. It is not possible to distinguish between the power failure and the like in the middle of the camera 1-1 to 1-12 side only by not transmitting the video when there is no change in the images before and after. Problems can be resolved, and a very practical and economical monitoring system can be constructed.

[0061]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the communication method and the communication time of the image information from the image pickup device are controlled based on the state of the communication traffic on the communication line, thereby performing the communication. It is possible to easily display the picked-up images of a plurality of image pickup devices installed at multiple points from a PC / WS used for work in an office at any time without increasing communication traffic on the line.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, by providing an auxiliary means for acquiring and storing the image information from the image pickup device, the communication method or the communication time of the image information to the communication line is optimized. It is possible to obtain the imaged image from the desired image pickup device by each PC / WS. Since it is sufficient to communicate with the auxiliary means, the desired image can be obtained without increasing the communication traffic on the communication line. It is possible to promptly acquire and display the captured image from the image capturing device.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the video information of the communication line is transmitted only when the difference between the video imaged by the imaging device and the video image previously transmitted exceeds the specified value. By performing the transmission, it is possible to reduce the increase in traffic on the communication line and quickly acquire and display the captured image from the desired image capturing apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 4, the video information is sent to the communication line only when the difference between the video sent from the auxiliary means and the video sent previously exceeds the specified value. By doing so, it is possible to reduce an increase in traffic on the communication line and quickly acquire and display a captured image from a desired image capturing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera server of the surveillance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera of a surveillance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an acquired image on a PC / WS screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for managing image acquisition in a camera server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a video sequence sequentially captured by a surveillance device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the monitoring device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the monitoring device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring device using a dedicated cable such as a conventional CCTV.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1-1 to 1-12 Cameras 2-1 to 2-4 Camera server 3 High-speed backbone LAN 4, 4-1 to 4-4 Branch line LAN 5-1 to 5-3 Router / Bruta 6 Public / dedicated communication line 7-1, 7-2 Gateway / Router 8-1, 8-2 PC / WS 101, 120 Communication control unit 102 Video encoding / decoding unit 103 Image combination processing unit 104 VRAM 105 Monitor display unit 106, 122 Memory access control Section 107, 123 memory 108, 124 A / D conversion section 109 video switcher 110, 126 traffic monitoring section 111 storage section 112, 125 system control section 121 video encoding section 127 camera section 201 monitor display section 202 received video display window 203 , 204 Other windows

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An imaging device, comprising: a plurality of imaging devices; connecting means for connecting the plurality of imaging devices to a communication line; and transfer of control information and video information to and from the imaging device via the communication line. An information device for selecting and displaying the video, a monitoring means for monitoring the communication traffic on the communication line, and a communication method of the control information or the video information to the communication line based on the state of the communication traffic. Or a communication control means for automatically controlling the communication time of the control information or the video information to the communication line. 2. A dividing unit that divides the plurality of image pickup devices into a plurality of groups according to an environment connected to the communication line, and controlling all of the image pickup devices in each of the groups so that all the image pickup devices in the group are grouped. Auxiliary means for acquiring and storing image information from the image pickup device, communication means for communicating image information from the image pickup device between the auxiliary means via the communication line, and connection status to the communication line Based on the setting means for setting the communication method or communication time of the video information in each of the auxiliary means, and monitoring the communication traffic on the communication line, based on the state of the communication traffic, the video information of the The monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that automatically switches a communication method or a communication time to the communication line. 3. A detecting means for detecting a difference between an image currently captured by the image capturing device and a previously transmitted image, a comparing means for comparing the difference with a predetermined prescribed value, and the difference is If the specified value is exceeded, the image information currently being captured is sent to the communication line, and if the difference does not exceed the specified value, the video information is not sent to the communication line. The monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: sending means for sending control information indicating that the video information is not sent. 4. A detecting means for detecting a difference between an image sent from the auxiliary means and an image sent previously, a comparing means for comparing the difference with a predetermined prescribed value, and the difference being the prescribed value. If the difference exceeds the specified value, the video information to be transmitted is not transmitted to the communication line and the video information to be transmitted is transmitted to the communication line. 4. The monitoring device according to claim 2, further comprising a sending unit that sends control information indicating that the video information is not sent.